Around 1 June 1843 in , Illinois, JS issued an authorization for to accompany on a mission to , Russia, and to raise money for this mission. The authorization came at a turbulent time for Adams, whom leaders had recalled from to Nauvoo to answer charges of adultery. At a meeting of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles on 27 May 1843, JS stated that Adams had made “perfect satisfaction” of his conduct, although JS took Adams’s 's and instructed him to “act as ” in the church. “Bro— Adams, has now started anew,” JS declared, and apparently part of that new beginning was the assignment to accompany Hyde to Russia.

The desire for missionaries to go to Russia was likely rooted in the need church leaders saw to preach throughout North America, Europe, and ultimately “all nations” so that descendants of the biblical house of Israel could be gathered in preparation for Jesus Christ’s second coming. Visiting , Russia’s western port city, was a way “to introduce the fulness of the glorious gospel,” as the authorization stated, “to the people of that vast empire.” The assignment to St. Petersburg was the second time and were paired together for a proselytizing mission. Adams accompanied Hyde to in 1841, and their time together on that mission created a bond between the two men. Adams wrote in an April 1842 letter to JS that he would “never forget” Hyde’s “kindness.”

It is unknown when the authorization was prepared; no draft has been located, and, as published in the 1 June 1843 issue of the Times and Seasons, the authorization contains no date. The document was likely created after the 27 May meeting of the apostles, who supervised all church missions; it was during this meeting that JS reported that had satisfactorily answered the charges against him. It is also possible that the authorization was created later than 1 June, given that the Times and Seasons was sometimes delayed in its publication, although the 1 June issue was presumably published on time. The authorization could be the same document Adams showed during a September 1843 meeting of the to defend himself against charges levied against him by . That document, which Adams said was “from the ,” was dated 5 June. However, given that this authorization is signed only by JS and not by the other members of the First Presidency, it is unclear if the authorization and the 5 June document are the same. The safest estimate is that the authorization featured here was created within a few days of 1 June. For unknown reasons—perhaps related to an inability to raise enough funds— and Adams had not departed on this mission by the end of 1843.